Apparatus for pumping fluids



sept. 28, 1943. r wf 1, GMES 2,330,336 APPARATUS FOR PUMPING YFLUIDS Y Filed Dec. 9, 1940 ltm Patented Sept. 28, 1943 APPARATUS FOR PUMPING FLUIDS Wilbur J. crues, Bartlesville, oklal, assigner te Phillips Petroleum Company, a corporation of Delaware Application December 9, 1940, Serial No. 369,336

3 Claims.

This invention relates to the pumping of uids from underground reservoirs, and more particularly to apparatus for pumping fluids employing positive displacement mea A Y In the production of fiuidfrom underground reservoirs, such as a hydrocarbon oil reservoir, the piston displacement type or centrifugal type of pumps are generally employed. Both types have their own inherent mechanical drawbacks which increase the cost of pumping fluids. `It has long been recognized by the petroleumindus'tryr that a positive displacement pump of the rotary type could be utilized advantageously for the production of fluid from underground reservoirs and that this type Dump would involve fewer mechanical problems of operation were it not for the fact that practically all fluids contain solid particles in suspension which are abrasive in character, and which soon tend to render the pump ineflicient and oftentimes inoperative due to excessive wear on the impellers and the pump casing. y

My invention proposes to utilize the positive displacement rotary pump for pumping uids from underground reservoirs by connecting a centrifugal separator or centrifuge in series with the vrotary pump, and driving both devices from the same prime mover. The vfluid with the entrained abrasive materials is rst admitted into the centrifugal separator where the solids are removed, and the fluid is then transmitted ,to the A pump, thereby overcoming the difculties experienced in the past.

This invention has for its primary object, the provision of apparatus using a positive displacement rotary means for 'the production of fluid from underground reservoirs.

- Another object of this invention is to provide apparatus for removing abrasive solids from underground fluids and for subsequently producing fthe-fluid by means of a positive displacement rotary pump. s

These and other objects and advantages will be apparent to persons skilled in the art by reference to the following description and annexed drawing which is an elevation view, partly in cross section, of a preferred embodiment of my invention. l 1

Referring to the drawing', `I have denoted therein a well casing I that extends downwardly from the surface of the ground (not shown) and communicates with a hydrocarbon oil-bearing reservoir 2. A string of flow tubing 3 within the casing, is removably connected at its lower ex-e tremi-ty to a chamber 4 that contains avsubmersi- (Cl. 10S-204) y that are disposed in a suitable insulating sheath 8.

Av positive displacement rotary pump 9 of conventional design is mechanically connected to motor 5 and a centrifuge IIJ by means of a common shaft I I that is coupled to motor drive shaft .6. 'The pump also communicates with chamber 4 and centrifuge I9 through conduits I2 and I3,

respectively, so that fluid admitted into' the cen.-A

trifuge is transmitted upwardly by the pump, into the chamber and thence through tubing string 3 to the surface of the ground. Centrifuge i0 is provided with one `or more intakeports Ill for theadmission of hydrocarbon fluid with entrained abrasive materials, such as sand, into the interior thereof and one or more discharge ports I 5 for the emission of the abrasive materials after they are separated from the fluid within the centrifuge. Motor 5, pump 9 and centrifuge i0 are all preferably suspended below liquid level i6 in the Well casing. It is to be understood,

however, that the electric motor and the pump may be disposed at any desired practical depth in thecasing, it being suilicient for the purposes of this invention if intake ports Hl of the centrifuge are maintained below the liquid level of the reservoir fluid.

For the purpose of outlining the mode of `operation of the instant invention, let us assume that the apparatus is assembled and suspended in the w`ell`casing, as illustrated in the drawing; and

that the electric circuit is completed, thereby energizing electric motor 5 which rotates pump 9 and .centrifuge i0 through the cooperation of motor drive shaft Ii and shaft II. Hydrocarbon oil with' the entrained solidmaterials is admitted through intake ports I 4 into centrifuge I0 where the solid abrasive materials are separated from the liquid by centrifugal action. The .solid materials are emitted from the centrifuge through discharge ports I5 after separation and the cleansed fluid passes upwardly through conduit I3. Rotary pump 9 receives the fluid from conduit I3 and transmits the same through conduit I2, chamber 4, and thence through flow tubing 3 to'the surface of the groun From the foregoing it is believed that the apparatus for practicing my instant invention will be readily comprehended by persons skilled in the art. It is to be clearly understood, however, that various changes in the apparatus herewith invention as de- I claim:

1. In apparatus for recovering oil from a hydrocarbon oil-bearing formation through a well borecommunicating therewith, the combination comprising a centrifuge for cleansing the cil below the surface of the ground by removing solid material entrained therein, a rotary pump having an inlet and an outlet with the centrifuge direct- 1y connected to the inlet of the pump, the centrifuge delivering the cleansed oily to the inlet of the pump, pump actuating means connected to the pump within the well bore, and flow tubing communicating with the outlet of the pump for transmitting the cleansed oil to the surface of the ground.

2. In apparatus for recovering oil from a hydrocarbon oil-bearing formation through a well bore communicating therewith, the combination comprising flow tubing in the well bore, a rotary pump'having an inlet and an outlet suspended from the lower extremity of the flow tubing and having the outlet communicating with the lower extremity of the ow tubing, pump actuating means intermediate the tubing and the pump and a centrifuge connected to the inlet end of the pump and delivering cleansed oil to the pump.

3. In apparatus for recovering oil from a hydrocarbon oil-bearing formation through a well bore communicating therewith, the combination comprising iiow tubing in the well bore, a chamber suspended from and communicating with the. lower extremity of the tubing, an electric motor including a drive shaft in the chamber, a rotary purnp having an inlet and an outlet, said pump outlet communicating with the chamber, a centrifuge for cleansing the oil below the surface of the ground by removing solid material entrained therein, the centrifuge delivering the cleansed oil to the inlet of the pump, and means connected to the motor drive shaft for imparting rotary motion to both the pump and the centrifuge.

WILBUR J. CRITES. 

